Wilderness.org - Parkshttp://wilderness.org/taxonomy/term/2040
enCongress Must Renew Land and Water Conservation Fund, a Bedrock Law that Has Helped Thousands of Communities across the U.S.http://wilderness.org/press-release/congress-must-renew-land-and-water-conservation-fund-bedrock-law-has-helped-thousands
<div class="field-group-format group_meta field-group-div group-meta speed-fast effect-none"><div class="field field-name-field-release-date field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2015-04-22T11:15:00-04:00">Apr 22, 2015</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-dateline field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">WASHINGTON, DC</div></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-headline field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">An effective and popular conservation program with a 50-year track record is in danger of expiring – or suffering crippling “reforms” – unless Congress acts to preserve the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) in its current form.</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p>Authorization for LWCF runs out on September 30 2015.</p>
<p>Today, Earth Day, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing on &ldquo;reauthorization and potential reforms&rdquo; to LWCF. Funded primarily by offshore oil royalties&mdash;not taxpayer dollars&mdash;the program has had strong bipartisan support since its enactment in 1964. The Wilderness Society strongly supports several bills to reauthorize LWCF including S. 890, S. 338 and H.R. 1814, now pending in Congress.</p>
<p>Many House and Senate members strongly support the time-honored program, but others will be tempted to alter the law in ways that would redirect and limit funding and ultimately undermine the law&rsquo;s essential conservation mission.</p>
<p>&ldquo;From majestic national parks to ball fields and green spaces in cities and towns, the Land and Water Conservation Fund has helped to finance more than 40,000 projects in every corner of the United States,&rdquo; said Jamie Williams, president of The Wilderness Society. &ldquo;We know that access to the great outdoors is critical to the health of our nation. LWCF has played a key role in getting Americans outside for five decades, and Congress should work in a bipartisan manner to reauthorize it immediately.&rdquo;</p>
<p>At today&#39;s Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on LWCF, members are likely to hear about a proposal to pay for National Park operations and maintenance projects using Land and Water Conservation Fund dollars. While the maintenance backlog in parks across the country is acute, there is already a federal program designed specifically to address that issue, and Congress should not rob the Land and Water Conservation Fund of its important role.</p>
<p>Similarly, lawmakers are also expected to debate the transfer of more of the program&rsquo;s dollars to states rather than to national lands, despite the fact that half of Land and Water Conservation Fund dollars have already been provided as grants to states over the last 10 years. Both federal and state lands suffer from unfinished conservation projects across the country because Congress redirects dollars away from the Land and Water Conservation Fund for unrelated projects nearly every year. &ldquo;This hearing should be focused on how Congress plans to permanently fund this highly beneficial program into the future so that all our nation&rsquo;s conservation needs are met, both nationally and locally,&rdquo; said Alan Rowsome, senior director of government affairs at The Wilderness Society.</p>
<p>The Land and Water Conservation Fund is dedicated to the conservation of, and access to, national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, wilderness, monuments, civil war battlefields, historic and cultural sites and local, state and regional parks nationwide. The program helps to keep public lands public &ndash; for hunters, anglers and other recreational users. Strategic Land and Water Conservation Fund investments protect clean water sources, allow users to enjoy lands that were previously inaccessible, enhance park management, connect trail systems, and create urban parks and open spaces in underserved communities to give all Americans more opportunities to enjoy the wonders of the great outdoors.</p>
<p>###</p>
<p>The Wilderness Society is the leading conservation organization working to protect wilderness and inspire Americans to care for our wild places. Founded in 1935, and now with more than 700,000 members and supporters, TWS has led the effort to permanently protect 110 million acres of wilderness and to ensure sound management of our shared national lands. <a href="http://www.wilderness.org">www.wilderness.org</a></p>
<p>Contacts: Michael Reinemer, Communications Manager, Wildlands Campaign, <span class="baec5a81-e4d6-4674-97f3-e9220f0136c1" style="white-space: nowrap;">202-429-3949<a href="#" style="margin: 0px; border: currentColor; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 16px; height: 16px; right: 0px; bottom: 0px; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: middle; float: none; display: inline; white-space: nowrap; position: static !important;" title="Call: 202-429-3949"><img src="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAABAAAAAQCAYAAAAf8/9hAAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAKT2lDQ1BQaG90b3Nob3AgSUNDIHByb2ZpbGUAAHjanVNnVFPpFj333vRCS4iAlEtvUhUIIFJCi4AUkSYqIQkQSoghodkVUcERRUUEG8igiAOOjoCMFVEsDIoK2AfkIaKOg6OIisr74Xuja9a89+bN/rXXPues852zzwfACAyWSDNRNYAMqUIeEeCDx8TG4eQuQIEKJHAAEAizZCFz/SMBAPh+PDwrIsAHvgABeNMLCADATZvAMByH/w/qQplcAYCEAcB0kThLCIAUAEB6jkKmAEBGAYCdmCZTAKAEAGDLY2LjAFAtAGAnf+bTAICd+Jl7AQBblCEVAaCRACATZYhEAGg7AKzPVopFAFgwABRmS8Q5ANgtADBJV2ZIALC3AMDOEAuyAAgMADBRiIUpAAR7AGDIIyN4AISZABRG8lc88SuuEOcqAAB4mbI8uSQ5RYFbCC1xB1dXLh4ozkkXKxQ2YQJhmkAuwnmZGTKBNA/g88wAAKCRFRHgg/P9eM4Ors7ONo62Dl8t6r8G/yJiYuP+5c+rcEAAAOF0ftH+LC+zGoA7BoBt/qIl7gRoXgugdfeLZrIPQLUAoOnaV/Nw+H48PEWhkLnZ2eXk5NhKxEJbYcpXff5nwl/AV/1s+X48/Pf14L7iJIEyXYFHBPjgwsz0TKUcz5IJhGLc5o9H/LcL//wd0yLESWK5WCoU41EScY5EmozzMqUiiUKSKcUl0v9k4t8s+wM+3zUAsGo+AXuRLahdYwP2SycQWHTA4vcAAPK7b8HUKAgDgGiD4c93/+8//UegJQCAZkmScQAAXkQkLlTKsz/HCAAARKCBKrBBG/TBGCzABhzBBdzBC/xgNoRCJMTCQhBCCmSAHHJgKayCQiiGzbAdKmAv1EAdNMBRaIaTcA4uwlW4Dj1wD/phCJ7BKLyBCQRByAgTYSHaiAFiilgjjggXmYX4IcFIBBKLJCDJiBRRIkuRNUgxUopUIFVIHfI9cgI5h1xGupE7yAAygvyGvEcxlIGyUT3UDLVDuag3GoRGogvQZHQxmo8WoJvQcrQaPYw2oefQq2gP2o8+Q8cwwOgYBzPEbDAuxsNCsTgsCZNjy7EirAyrxhqwVqwDu4n1Y8+xdwQSgUXACTYEd0IgYR5BSFhMWE7YSKggHCQ0EdoJNwkDhFHCJyKTqEu0JroR+cQYYjIxh1hILCPWEo8TLxB7iEPENyQSiUMyJ7mQAkmxpFTSEtJG0m5SI+ksqZs0SBojk8naZGuyBzmULCAryIXkneTD5DPkG+Qh8lsKnWJAcaT4U+IoUspqShnlEOU05QZlmDJBVaOaUt2ooVQRNY9aQq2htlKvUYeoEzR1mjnNgxZJS6WtopXTGmgXaPdpr+h0uhHdlR5Ol9BX0svpR+iX6AP0dwwNhhWDx4hnKBmbGAcYZxl3GK+YTKYZ04sZx1QwNzHrmOeZD5lvVVgqtip8FZHKCpVKlSaVGyovVKmqpqreqgtV81XLVI+pXlN9rkZVM1PjqQnUlqtVqp1Q61MbU2epO6iHqmeob1Q/pH5Z/YkGWcNMw09DpFGgsV/jvMYgC2MZs3gsIWsNq4Z1gTXEJrHN2Xx2KruY/R27iz2qqaE5QzNKM1ezUvOUZj8H45hx+Jx0TgnnKKeX836K3hTvKeIpG6Y0TLkxZVxrqpaXllirSKtRq0frvTau7aedpr1Fu1n7gQ5Bx0onXCdHZ4/OBZ3nU9lT3acKpxZNPTr1ri6qa6UbobtEd79up+6Ynr5egJ5Mb6feeb3n+hx9L/1U/W36p/VHDFgGswwkBtsMzhg8xTVxbzwdL8fb8VFDXcNAQ6VhlWGX4YSRudE8o9VGjUYPjGnGXOMk423GbcajJgYmISZLTepN7ppSTbmmKaY7TDtMx83MzaLN1pk1mz0x1zLnm+eb15vft2BaeFostqi2uGVJsuRaplnutrxuhVo5WaVYVVpds0atna0l1rutu6cRp7lOk06rntZnw7Dxtsm2qbcZsOXYBtuutm22fWFnYhdnt8Wuw+6TvZN9un2N/T0HDYfZDqsdWh1+c7RyFDpWOt6azpzuP33F9JbpL2dYzxDP2DPjthPLKcRpnVOb00dnF2e5c4PziIuJS4LLLpc+Lpsbxt3IveRKdPVxXeF60vWdm7Obwu2o26/uNu5p7ofcn8w0nymeWTNz0MPIQ+BR5dE/C5+VMGvfrH5PQ0+BZ7XnIy9jL5FXrdewt6V3qvdh7xc+9j5yn+M+4zw33jLeWV/MN8C3yLfLT8Nvnl+F30N/I/9k/3r/0QCngCUBZwOJgUGBWwL7+Hp8Ib+OPzrbZfay2e1BjKC5QRVBj4KtguXBrSFoyOyQrSH355jOkc5pDoVQfujW0Adh5mGLw34MJ4WHhVeGP45wiFga0TGXNXfR3ENz30T6RJZE3ptnMU85ry1KNSo+qi5qPNo3ujS6P8YuZlnM1VidWElsSxw5LiquNm5svt/87fOH4p3iC+N7F5gvyF1weaHOwvSFpxapLhIsOpZATIhOOJTwQRAqqBaMJfITdyWOCnnCHcJnIi/RNtGI2ENcKh5O8kgqTXqS7JG8NXkkxTOlLOW5hCepkLxMDUzdmzqeFpp2IG0yPTq9MYOSkZBxQqohTZO2Z+pn5mZ2y6xlhbL+xW6Lty8elQfJa7OQrAVZLQq2QqboVFoo1yoHsmdlV2a/zYnKOZarnivN7cyzytuQN5zvn//tEsIS4ZK2pYZLVy0dWOa9rGo5sjxxedsK4xUFK4ZWBqw8uIq2Km3VT6vtV5eufr0mek1rgV7ByoLBtQFr6wtVCuWFfevc1+1dT1gvWd+1YfqGnRs+FYmKrhTbF5cVf9go3HjlG4dvyr+Z3JS0qavEuWTPZtJm6ebeLZ5bDpaql+aXDm4N2dq0Dd9WtO319kXbL5fNKNu7g7ZDuaO/PLi8ZafJzs07P1SkVPRU+lQ27tLdtWHX+G7R7ht7vPY07NXbW7z3/T7JvttVAVVN1WbVZftJ+7P3P66Jqun4lvttXa1ObXHtxwPSA/0HIw6217nU1R3SPVRSj9Yr60cOxx++/p3vdy0NNg1VjZzG4iNwRHnk6fcJ3/ceDTradox7rOEH0x92HWcdL2pCmvKaRptTmvtbYlu6T8w+0dbq3nr8R9sfD5w0PFl5SvNUyWna6YLTk2fyz4ydlZ19fi753GDborZ752PO32oPb++6EHTh0kX/i+c7vDvOXPK4dPKy2+UTV7hXmq86X23qdOo8/pPTT8e7nLuarrlca7nuer21e2b36RueN87d9L158Rb/1tWeOT3dvfN6b/fF9/XfFt1+cif9zsu72Xcn7q28T7xf9EDtQdlD3YfVP1v+3Njv3H9qwHeg89HcR/cGhYPP/pH1jw9DBY+Zj8uGDYbrnjg+OTniP3L96fynQ89kzyaeF/6i/suuFxYvfvjV69fO0ZjRoZfyl5O/bXyl/erA6xmv28bCxh6+yXgzMV70VvvtwXfcdx3vo98PT+R8IH8o/2j5sfVT0Kf7kxmTk/8EA5jz/GMzLdsAAAAgY0hSTQAAeiUAAICDAAD5/wAAgOkAAHUwAADqYAAAOpgAABdvkl/FRgAAAaNJREFUeNqk009oz3Ecx/HH9/P9/YQRWSi2MGmNrebkpJgSLluKEw5Kk5zUsgMOTrO42MUVxUWRg+LgaPWbUGq7rRk7sExKNPt9vx8H32l921z2vrw+n3fvz/Pz/vP5JDFGy7HKwk1/fz/sR09VNjAZG6fv1buQHcZm3P8vAMfwCKswncoHCn8nbuAratiEUQglwLXiMJz/FhvWYC9OFb4htBV6B9VyBtsKzRJxbDhvbSS5i1kcQo736MNrjJcBeaG3MuFyInagA0fwckHcGzzGiXIJU38bk1U+x3W+x7U/yOvYU4prwG5MlAHPoS4925TMNDeHLxNUh0gGcRC9eFqk34TBMuAhfmL9b5Vz3elIbAmfLq02d4HQhbc4gBYcxUgZMFrcIJecrsgaT6avdl6sPqu1hw9XSWs4U5Q6udgYFfP+he25MEysVWQvutORLcfTYax4gn3z/VoM8A7Xi/WuKNmQCRujpLc1TGkP46hOI1sKADdxG3PzjkzoTNCT1rSFiX+PuLIEoI4rGC+6/xEPMsFKs7YmM8bsAMlyf2OwTPszAMZMeayGCpJVAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC" style="margin: 0px; border: currentColor; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 16px; height: 16px; right: 0px; bottom: 0px; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: middle; float: none; display: inline; white-space: nowrap; position: static !important;" title="Call: 202-429-3949" /></a></span>, <a href="mailto:michael_reinemer@tws.org">michael_reinemer@tws.org</a> Amy E. Lindholm, LWCF Campaign Manager, <span class="baec5a81-e4d6-4674-97f3-e9220f0136c1" style="white-space: nowrap;">202-429-2663<a href="#" style="margin: 0px; border: currentColor; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 16px; height: 16px; right: 0px; bottom: 0px; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: middle; float: none; display: inline; white-space: nowrap; position: static !important;" title="Call: 202-429-2663"><img src="data:image/png;base64,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" style="margin: 0px; border: currentColor; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 16px; height: 16px; right: 0px; bottom: 0px; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: middle; float: none; display: inline; white-space: nowrap; position: static !important;" title="Call: 202-429-2663" /></a></span>, <a href="mailto:amy_lindholm@tws.org">amy_lindholm@tws.org</a></p>
</div></div></div>Wed, 22 Apr 2015 15:25:26 +0000Neil Shader108573 at http://wilderness.orghttp://wilderness.org/press-release/congress-must-renew-land-and-water-conservation-fund-bedrock-law-has-helped-thousands#commentsNational Parks: Our Treasured Landscapes http://wilderness.org/resource/national-parks-our-treasured-landscapes
<div class="field-group-format group_meta field-group-div group-meta speed-fast effect-none"><div class="field field-name-field-publication-date field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2009-06-03T16:01:37-04:00">Wednesday, June 3, 2009</span></div></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p>This National Park Service document provides extensive information on America's Wilderness and National Parks.</p>
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</div></div></div>Wed, 03 Jun 2009 22:01:37 +0000102138 at http://wilderness.orghttp://wilderness.org/resource/national-parks-our-treasured-landscapes#commentsEarth Day 2011: What are you doing this year?http://wilderness.org/blog/earth-day-2011-what-are-you-doing-year
<div class="field-group-format group_meta field-group-div group-meta speed-fast effect-none"><div class="field field-name-post-date field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Mar 23, 2011</div></div></div></div><div class="field-group-format group_image field-group-div group-image speed-fast effect-none"><div class="field field-name-field-content-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://wilderness.org/sites/default/files/styles/blog_full/public/legacy/profiler/tree-planting-istock_0.jpg?itok=Jbbkox6y" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-video field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"></div></div><div class="field field-name-media-description field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-credit field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p>
Earth Day 2011, this April 22, reminds us that even in this time of unprecedented environmental challenge, every citizen has the power to&nbsp;affect change on a local, national and global level.</p>
<blockquote><h3>
What are You Doing this Earth Day?</h3>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="http://my.wilderness.org">Check out <em>my wilderness, my Earth Day</em></a></li>
<li>
<a href="earth-day-2011-events" title="Tell the WildAlert Community about your Earth Day events">Find Earth Day events in your area</a></li>
<li>
<a href="http://wilderness.org/content/kids-parents-and-teachers">Resources for kids, parents, and teachers</a></li>
<li>
<a href="http://wilderness.org/content/gaylord-nelson-and-history-earth-day">Earth Day history</a></li>
<li>
<a href="http://wilderness.org/content/earth-day-heroes">Earth Day heroes</a></li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p>
We love Earth Day for all it does to raise awareness and benefit wild places &mdash; and of course it doesn&#39;t hurt that Earth Day founder <a href="gaylord-nelson-and-history-earth-day">Gaylord Nelson</a> was counselor to The Wilderness Society for many years.&nbsp; If you love wild lands, we urge you to get out and volunteer on those lands this Earth Day. Whether you&#39;re interested in volunteering for an afternoon or an entire season, a variety of opportunities are available.</p>
<p>
Need volunteer ideas? Grab some from our list below. Have volunteer ideas? Please feel free to leave them in our comment section:</p>
<h3>
Volunteer Opportunities:</h3>
<ul>
<li>
<strong>National Parks: </strong>The National Park Service has numerous ongoing opportunities for volunteers to experience nature while contributing.&nbsp; Work with scientists to protect endangered species or help out with trail maintenance. These and many other opportunities can be found at the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/getinvolved/volunteer.htm" target="_blank">National Park Service website</a>.</li>
<li>
<strong>Refuges: </strong>Assist the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with wildlife population surveys, leading tours of wildlife refuges, and restoring fragile habitat. Training is provided. Visit the <a href="http://www.fws.gov/volunteers/" target="_blank">USFWS volunteer page</a> to find an opportunity in your area.</li>
<li>
<strong>National Forests: </strong><a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c5/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gjAwhwtDDw9_AI8zPwhQoY6IeDdGCqCPOBqwDLG-AAjgb6fh75uan6BdnZaY6OiooA1tkqlQ!!/dl3/d3/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS9ZQnZ3LzZfMjAwMDAwMDBBODBPSEhWTjBNMDAwMDAwMDA!/?ss=119920&amp;navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&amp;navid=091000000000000&amp;pnavid=null&amp;ttype=main&amp;cid=FSE_003853&amp;position=QUICKLINKS&amp;pname=Volunteering-Volunteer%2520Home" target="_blank">The U.S. Forest Service</a> offers individual and group projects maintaining trails, campgrounds or working in Wilderness areas, among others.</li>
<li>
<strong>Bureau of Land Management Lands: </strong>Trail work, wildlife monitoring, campground hosting, planting trees and <a href="http://www.blm.gov/volunteer/opportunities/index.html" target="_blank">many other opportunites</a>.</li>
</ul>
<p>
<a href="http://fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c5/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gjAwhwtDDw9_AI8zPwhQoY6IeDdGCqCPOBqwDLG-AAjgb6fh75uan6BdnZaY6OiooA1tkqlQ!!/dl3/d3/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS9ZQnZ3LzZfMjAwMDAwMDBBODBPSEhWTjBNMDAwMDAwMDA!/?ss=119920&amp;navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&amp;navid=091000000000000&amp;pnavid=null&amp;ttype=main&amp;cid=FSE_003853&amp;position=QUICKLINKS&amp;pname=Volunteering-Volunteer Home"><img alt="USFS volunteers." src="/sites/default/files/legacy/imagecache/225/images/volunteers-forestservice_1.jpg" style="float: right;" /></a><strong>Other volunteer opportunities:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="http://www.serve.gov/" target="_blank">Serve.Gov</a></li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.volunteer.gov/gov/" target="_blank">Volunteer.gov</a>: Government clearinghouse for natural resource projects.</li>
</ul>
<p>
<strong>Local volunteer projects:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="http://www.voc.org/" target="_blank">Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado</a></li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.trailcrews.org/" target="_blank">Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards</a></li>
<li>
<a href="http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/vip/vvi.htm" target="_blank">Alaska State Parks</a></li>
</ul>
<p>
<strong>Know of other local volunteer opportunities? Please share them in our comments section below. </strong></p>
<p>
Photo: U.S. Forest Service</p>
</div></div></div>Wed, 23 Mar 2011 17:11:06 +0000104529 at http://wilderness.orghttp://wilderness.org/blog/earth-day-2011-what-are-you-doing-year#commentsNational Park Week! Visit For Free April 17 – 25http://wilderness.org/blog/national-park-week-visit-free-april-17-%E2%80%93-25
<div class="field-group-format group_meta field-group-div group-meta speed-fast effect-none"><div class="field field-name-post-date field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Apr 14, 2010</div></div></div></div><div class="field-group-format group_image field-group-div group-image speed-fast effect-none"><div class="field field-name-field-content-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://wilderness.org/sites/default/files/styles/blog_full/public/legacy/profiler/ArchesNationalPark-JasonKBach_0.jpg?itok=c0xCQ9lR" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-video field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"></div></div><div class="field field-name-media-description field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-credit field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p>
Our national parks are treasure troves of history, recreation opportunities, culture, inspiration and beauty. They are some of the most accessible places to view glaciers, wildlife and towering ancient forests &mdash; up close and personal. And <strong>from April 17 - 25, you can visit any one of our 392 national parks</strong>, like <a href="http://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm" target="_blank">Yellowstone</a>, <a href="http://www.nps.gov/olym/index.htm" target="_blank">Olympic</a> and <a href="http://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm" target="_blank">Great Smoky Mountains</a> National Parks <strong>for free</strong>.</p>
<p>
The National Park Service is making it easier to experience America&rsquo;s Great Outdoors during <a href="http://www.nps.gov/npweek/" target="_blank">National Park Week</a> by waiving entrance fees to all of the lands it oversees, including parks, monuments, reserves and recreation areas. Many parks will offer special programs and volunteer projects as an added bonus, including a number of family-friends activities like <a href="http://www.nps.gov/learn/juniorranger.htm" target="_blank"><strong>National Junior Ranger Day</strong></a><strong> on April 24</strong>.</p>
<p>
On National Junior Ranger Day, kids can learn all about a national park they visit &mdash; from history to science &mdash; through a number of fun interactive activities that result in the awarding of an official Junior Ranger patch and certificate! Can&rsquo;t make it to a park with your child? The Park Service&rsquo;s on-line Junior Ranger program <a href="http://www.nps.gov/webrangers/" target="_blank">WebRangers</a> is a fun alternative.</p>
<p>
&ldquo;Our national parks are some of our country&rsquo;s greatest treasures,&rdquo; said Chip Jenkins, superintendent of North Cascades National Park Complex. &ldquo;National Park Week is the perfect time to take your family to a park, whether it be a hike or to take part in a volunteer project. What better way to celebrate our national parks, than to connect our children to these amazing wild places so that they can experience the great outdoors.&rdquo;</p>
<p>
<embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="300" src="http://blip.tv/play/g50BgaPOcAI" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480"></embed></p>
<p>
<a href="interview-ken-burns">See our complete collection of National Park videos with Ken Burns.</a></p>
<h3>
A Great Wild History</h3>
<p>
On August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed a bill that mandated the National Park Service to preserve land for its natural, historic and wildlife values, and as a means of enjoyment, in such a way as to leave the land in its natural condition for future generations to benefit from as well.</p>
<p>
<img alt="Bison herd running across a flooded meadow in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Photo by Scorpions and Centaurs, Flickr." height="200" src="/sites/default/files/legacy/userfiles/Bison-herd-flooded-meadow-YellowstoneNationalPark-Wyoming-Scorpions-and-Centaurs-Flickr.jpg" width="300" />Today, many people assume our National Parks receive the highest protections afforded by the government, but in fact, only about <strong>half of our national parklands are designated as wilderness areas</strong>. While national park designation conserves the land, development can still occur. <a href="/campaigns/national-parks/need-wilderness">Designating wilderness in a national park</a> provides the undeveloped parkland with the highest level of protection so that it leaves the land pristine and unchanged for future generations. The Wilderness Act protects designated wilderness areas by law &quot;for the permanent good of the whole people.&quot; With the Wilderness Act, Congress secures &quot;for the American people of present and future generations the benefits of an enduring resource of wilderness.&quot;</p>
<p>
The Wilderness Society is currently working to expand protections of the unique desert lands of Death Valley National Park in California and the pristine desert landscapes and lush river canyons of southwest Texas&rsquo; <a href="/sites/default/files/legacy/Big-Bend-National-Park-Wilderness.pdf">Big Bend National Park</a>.</p>
<p>
To see what wilderness areas are managed by the National Park Service, check out <a href="http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=NWPS" target="_blank">Wilderness.net&rsquo;s <em>U.S. National Wilderness Preservation System Map</em></a>.</p>
<h3>
10 Tips to a Successful National Park Visit</h3>
<p>
<img alt="Mother and sons with park ranger in the North Cascades National Park. Photo by Damon Parrish, Courtesy REI." height="215" src="/sites/default/files/legacy/userfiles/mother-sons-ranger-ncascades-ntl-park-Parrish-rei.jpg" style="float: right" width="300" /></p>
<ol>
<li>
Don&rsquo;t forget the camera and spare batteries!</li>
<li>
Pack plenty of snacks and drinks to stave off hunger as you explore.</li>
<li>
Wear comfortable walking shoes &mdash; there&rsquo;s so much to see.</li>
<li>
Prepare for all types of weather &mdash; whether it be a desert-based park or a mountainous one, the weather can be unpredictable&hellip;might as well make sure you have a rain jacket, gloves and plenty of layers so your trip isn&rsquo;t cut short due to being unprepared.</li>
<li>
Bring games, books or iPods for the kids &mdash; if you&rsquo;re planning a car trip, keep the kids entertained for your sanity.</li>
<li>
It&rsquo;s ok to make an itinerary, but be flexible to change &mdash; especially if you&rsquo;re heading out with kids.</li>
<li>
Plan for plenty of pit stops.</li>
<li>
Research your destination(s) before heading out &mdash; our national parks are filled to the brim with things to see and do, so you probably won&rsquo;t be able to do everything. Look up your destination and find out what appeals to you the most &mdash; better yet, if traveling with kids, let them select a few places they are interested in visiting as well.</li>
<li>
Always stop at the visitor center where you can find up-to-date information on park conditions and obtain a map of the park you&rsquo;re visiting. You can also ask the rangers on duty any question you may have regarding your visit.</li>
<li>
Try to miss the crowds &mdash; if you plan to visit the park on a weekend or during the peak summer season, you will be greeted by crowds. If possible, plan your trip during the off-season (spring or fall) and during the week-day when visitorship is usually much lower.</li>
</ol>
<p>
So pack up your daytrip bag, grab the family and head to your local national park to experience some of our country&rsquo;s greatest crown jewels. And don&rsquo;t forget the camera!</p>
<p>
<strong><span style="font-size: smaller">photos:</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: smaller">Arches National Park. Photo by Jason K. Bach.<br />
Bison herd running across a flooded meadow in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Photo by Scorpions and Centaurs, Flickr.<br />
Mother and sons with park ranger in the North Cascades National Park. Photo by Damon Parrish, Courtesy REI.</span></p>
</div></div></div>Wed, 14 Apr 2010 21:08:38 +0000103118 at http://wilderness.orghttp://wilderness.org/blog/national-park-week-visit-free-april-17-%E2%80%93-25#commentsNational Parks get boost from Omnibus Acthttp://wilderness.org/blog/national-parks-get-boost-omnibus-act
<div class="field-group-format group_meta field-group-div group-meta speed-fast effect-none"><div class="field field-name-post-date field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Apr 10, 2009</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-node-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/bios/staff/paul-spitler">Paul Spitler</a></div></div></div></div><div class="field-group-format group_image field-group-div group-image speed-fast effect-none"><div class="field field-name-field-content-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://wilderness.org/sites/default/files/styles/blog_full/public/legacy/profiler/kings-canyon-ntl-park-ca-nps_0.jpg?itok=KdPeKv21" alt="" title="Kings Canyon National Park, CA. Couresty NPS." /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-video field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"></div></div><div class="field field-name-media-description field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Kings Canyon National Park, CA. Couresty NPS.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-credit field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"></div></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p>The <a href="new-wild-lands-map">Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 added nearly a half-million acres of new wilderness designations</a> in national park units in California, Utah, Colorado, and Michigan. The Wilderness Society worked tirelessly to make these designations reality. The following summary describes these newly designated wilderness areas. Despite these important gains, much more remains to be done.</p>
<p><strong>Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks &ndash; California </strong><br /> This bill designated 85,000 acres of Wilderness within Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, and protected the Redwood Mountain Grove, which is the largest stand of Giant Sequoia trees in the park.</p>
<p><strong><img height="219" width="150" src="/sites/default/files/legacy/userfiles/climber-rmnp-jeff-widen(1).jpg" alt="Rock climber in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Photo by Jeff Widen." />Rocky Mountain National Park &ndash; Colorado </strong><br /> Rocky Mountain National Park provides world-class hiking and climbing, and breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountains, while also supporting the economies of several gateway communities. This legislation protected nearly 250,000 acres of Wilderness within the park, finally implementing a recommendation by the National Park Service made in the early 1970s.</p>
<p><strong>Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore &ndash; Michigan </strong><br /> Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore features sandstone cliffs, lovely beaches, waterfalls, and sand dunes all with the spectacular backdrop of Lake Superior. This legislation designated over 11,000 acres of Wilderness within the national lakeshore, thus ensuring the permanent protection of this regional treasure.</p>
<p><strong><img height="225" width="150" src="/sites/default/files/legacy/userfiles/TheNarrows-ZionNationalPark-BenStimler-Flickr.jpg" alt="The Narrows in Zion National Park, Utah. Photo by Ben Stimler, Flickr." />Zion National Park &ndash; Utah </strong><br /> One of America&rsquo;s most scenic national parks, Zion features amazing redrock cliffs, ageless canyons, and colorful rock formations. Utah&rsquo;s oldest national park, Zion&rsquo;s multi-colored sandstone formations have been described as sandcastles atop desert canyons. This legislation protected over 124,000 acres of Zion as wilderness.</p>
<p><strong><strong><a href="../../../../../../content/new-wild-lands-map"><strong>See a map of&nbsp;America's newest wild lands and Wilderness.</strong></a></strong></strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: smaller;">photos:</span></strong><span style="font-size: smaller;"><br /> Kings Canyon National Park, CA. Couresty NPS.<br /> Rock climber in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Photo by Jeff Widen.<br /> The Narrows in Zion National Park, Utah. Photo by Ben Stimler, Flickr.</span></p>
</div></div></div>Fri, 10 Apr 2009 07:00:00 +0000102325 at http://wilderness.orghttp://wilderness.org/blog/national-parks-get-boost-omnibus-act#comments